Alford Academy

S3 pupils visited the Legacies of Slavery exhibition at Aberdeen University library, as part of their ongoing PBL (Project Based Learning) on the theme of racism. The exhibition provided an interesting insight into the local connections Aberdeen has with slavery, allowing students to make real-world connections between their learning and their local area. 

Pupils took part in a workshop, exploring the importance of a name and the impact on personal identity- something that was removed for slaves. They also looked into some of the names of streets and places in the local area with links to the slave trade (Jamaica Street, Sugarhouse Lane, Imperial Place). Also discussed was the fact that slave names have been erased from history, all record of their original identity has been lost/removed. However, the names of the slave traders remain famous. 

The exhibition contained a variety of interesting materials including the stories of the slaves who lived and worked here. The economic impact of slavery was also explained- some famous Aberdeen landmarks were built with proceeds of the slave trade.  Shockingly, the compensation paid to slave owners was such a large amount that the debt was only paid off in full in 2015- the abolition of slavery occurred in 1833. 

Many thanks to all involved at the University of Aberdeen for the production of such an interesting and important exhibition- our visit was an eye-opening one and provided our learners with an invaluable learning experience.